Drug Facts - Alcohol

Overview

What does it look like?
Alcohol is used in liquid form.

How is it used?
Alcohol is drunk. Types include beer, wine, and
liquor.

What are its short-term effects?
When a person drinks alcohol, the alcohol is
absorbed by the stomach, enters the bloodstream, and
goes to all the tissues. The effects of alcohol are
dependent on a variety of factors, including a
person's size, weight, age, and sex, as well as the
amount of food and alcohol consumed. The
disinhibiting effect of alcohol is one of the main
reasons it is used in so many social situations.
Other effects of moderate alcohol intake include
dizziness and talkativeness; the immediate effects
of a larger amount of alcohol include slurred
speech, disturbed sleep, nausea, and vomiting.
Alcohol, even at low doses, significantly impairs
the judgment and coordination required to drive a
car safely. Low to moderate doses of alcohol can
also increase the incidence of a variety of
aggressive acts, including domestic violence and
child abuse. Hangovers are another possible effect
after large amounts of alcohol are consumed; a
hangover consists of headache, nausea, thirst,
dizziness, and fatigue.

What are its long-term effects?
Prolonged, heavy use of alcohol can lead to
addiction (alcoholism). Sudden cessation of long
term, extensive alcohol intake is likely to produce
withdrawal symptoms, including severe anxiety,
tremors, hallucinations and convulsions. Long-term
effects of consuming large quantities of alcohol,
especially when combined with poor nutrition, can
lead to permanent damage to vital organs such as the
brain and liver. In addition, mothers who drink
alcohol during pregnancy may give birth to infants
with fetal alcohol syndrome. These infants may
suffer from mental retardation and other
irreversible physical abnormalities. In addition,
research indicates that children of alcoholic
parents are at greater risk than other children of
becoming alcoholics.

Think you know the facts about alcohol abuse? If you
consume alcoholic beverages, it's important to know
whether your drinking patterns are safe, risky or
harmful. If you haven't done so already, you may
want to take this
Alcohol Assessment Quiz.